Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to contribute to setting in function the development management system in the cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), via supporting three years operational planning (2018-2020) and annual reporting (2017), towards full implementation of the recently adopted FBiH Law on Development Planning and Management and its emerging by-laws. For this consultancy assignment, one (1) Consultant will be selected.
Objective
The consultancy objective is to provide high-quality expert support to partner cantons in the process of strengthening their development management systems, by upgrading the existing ILDP Guidance for the 3-years action planning and annual development reporting, as well as by providing training and limited technical assistance to relevant cantonal government counterparts.
The basis for consultancy support will be the FBiH Law on Development Planning and Management and existing experiences of cantons that have already conducted annual planning and reporting cycle in the 2016/2017 planning period. Training support will focus on the 2017/2018 planning and reporting cycle, targeting practitioners from cantons and consultants that may be selected to directly support them. Moreover, to assure quality of selected key products, limited technical assistance will be provided to selected pilot cantons (up to 3 cantons, ideally small, medium and large; or 3 cantons that initiate related processes timely and produce draft documents, plans and reports). In conducting the tasks, the Consultant will closely coordinate with the FBiH Development Planning Institute and targeted cantons. The ultimate responsibility for preparation of plans will remain at the cantonal side, that may be supported via additional consultants to be selected in the upcoming period.
Background Information
Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP) is a joint initiative of the Government of Switzerland and UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) launched in 2008 with the aim to harmonise integrated and inclusive strategic planning at the local level. Through its previous two phases, the ILDP made significant contribution in standardisation of planning approaches at local and cantonal level and supported 40 local and 10 cantonal governments in designing and implementing their development strategies. Furthermore, the Project helped creation of foundations for establishment of strategic planning systems at the entity level, including financing mechanisms that provide targeted support to implementation of local development priorities country-wide.
The Project’s third, 4-year consolidation phase, was launched in March 2017 and seeks to further place efforts to scale up and consolidate knowledge and systems whose creation has been initiated back in 2008. To that end, the Project will provide assistance to a wide range of domestic partners to affirm a functional development planning and management sub-national system, which reinforces effective delivery of public policies – including those related to integration to the European Union – and thus contributes to better development results. The entity public financing mechanisms will reinforce the efforts of the system, ensuring vertical connectivity between higher government levels’ public funds and local priorities, contributing to improved local services, livelihoods and quality of life. 30 local and all 10 cantonal governments will strengthen their capacities to effectively address citizens’ needs and accelerate growth through inclusive development planning and management systems.
The Project has three main outcomes, as follows:
Outcome 1: Lead planning structures at entity level steer the development planning and management systems characterised by vertical and horizontal coordination and greater accountability towards the citizens;
Outcome 2: Local and cantonal governments effectively address needs of citizens and accelerate growth through inclusive development planning and management;
Outcome 3: Citizens and socio-economic partners take pro-active part in development management and benefit from improved services.
ILDP’s partners include entity institutions responsible for development planning, namely the FBiH Development Planning Institute and the Republika Srpska (RS) Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination Unit, all 10 cantons in the FBiH and approx. 30 local governments.
The project is implemented in coordination with the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugee, the FBiH Ministry of Justice, the RS Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government and both Associations of Municipalities and Cities.
Strategic planning and development management in the cantons
Considering that the cantonal level in the FBiH is an intermediate government level with considerable competencies for overall socio-economic development at the local level, its linkage with both local, as well as entity levels’ planning frameworks poses an additional challenge to the system-building efforts of the ILDP.
In 2013, the ILDP supported the participatory creation of a standardised development planning methodology to be applied by all 10 cantons. The unified planning methodology defines the guiding principles of the planning process, the general structure of cantonal strategies, the planning process and planning bodies, including minimum consultation requirements and engagement of constituent local governments and socio-economic partners within the canton. The standardised planning methodology has been successfully applied in all 10 cantons that have designed their integrated development strategies.
Other important elements related to this consultancy are substantive parts of adopted cantonal development strategies, namely: the indicative financial and time plan of the integrated development strategies, annual monitoring and reporting plan, action plan, macro and sectoral development indicators and monitoring and results framework.
Importantly, at the FBiH level the Law on Development Planning and Management in FBiH came into force in May 2017 and represents the general framework for the consultancy. In the upcoming period, by the end of 2017, a number of by-laws are to be designed, including the by-law on three-year annual planning and reporting.
Following the adoption of their development strategies, the ILDP partner cantons received support aimed at preparing and adopting three-year strategy implementation plans and annual implementation reports.

Duties and Responsibilities

Based on the adopted cantonal development strategies and their previous implementation plans and reports, existing and emerging regulatory framework for three years planning and annual reporting, as well as the previously prepared and tested templates of three years action plans and annual reports on implementation of strategy/reports on development, the consultancy is expected to result in a consulted and agreed proposal of most suitable modality for process, key players and time-lines of preparation, final templates and structures of both documents (three years plans and annual reports), as well as with training and limited on-demand support and quality assurance of selected draft documents.
Against the previously described background, the Consultant will have the following specific tasks:
Task 1: Review, adjust and upgrade the existing ILDP Guidance for multiannual planning and annual reporting
To perform the assignments under this consultancy, the Consultant will need to undertake several preparatory steps.
Firstly, the Consultant will familiarise him/herself with legal and other documents relevant for development planning and management in FBiH through desk review and interviews with key entity and cantonal stakeholders.
Secondly, the Consultant is expected to review existing strategic frameworks and relevant regulatory, operational and institutional frameworks in partner cantons. Thus, the Consultant will get familiar with the already existing relevant materials and concepts and obtain initial overview of the situation in cantons in terms of development planning and management.
Thirdly, the Consultant will organise preliminary orientation meetings with key representatives of the cantons that have valid experiences in multiannual planning and annual reporting on implementation of cantonal strategies, so as to validate the information and obtain specific data and views that might be taken into consideration.
Process inputs (responsibility of ILDP and partner cantonal governments):
The Law on Development Planning and Management in FBiH and relevant draft by-laws;
The existing ILDP Guidance and tools for strategic multiannual planning and annual reporting;
Existing cantonal multiannual plans and reports;
Cantonal development strategies and their implementation plans (including their financial frameworks);
Current by-laws and templates related to annual and multiannual planning in cantons.
Process outputs (responsibility of the consultant):
Based on received process inputs and in close communication with key FBiH and cantonal counterparts, the consultants will prepare adjusted and up-graded draft procedural guidelines/instructions for multiannual planning and annual strategic reporting, supported with templates and excel based tools;
In close coordination with the ILDP, that will provide logistical support, the Consultant will prepare the programme and materials and moderate a half-day focus group, targeting key FBiH and cantonal representatives and other consultants, aiming to present and consult the draft guidelines, collect comments and feedback;
Following the focus-group meeting and based on the accumulated practical feedback and insights from participants, the procedural guidelines/instructions, including templates and tools, for multiannual planning and annual reporting will be finalised.
The Consultant will ensure that all documents that result from the consultancy (upgraded and adjusted guidelines and subsequent tools) are aligned with the provisions of the Law and future by-laws as well as the existing good practices.
The ILDP will approve all products prior to their further distribution. The procedural guidelines will serve as a platform in transition period, prior to adoption and operationalisation of the upcoming by-laws.
It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by end of September 2017. The level of effort for Task 1 will not exceed 15 expert days.
Task 2: Support preparation of development reports for 2017 and 2018-2020 strategy implementation plans in cantons
Review of annual progress and level of implementation of cantonal development strategies in 2017 as well as formulation of the following year`s operational and financial framework (originating from the already defined priority measures) is another main pillar of assistance under the ToR.
Experience comes to show that at present monitoring and evaluation of strategies` progress is basically conducted by comparing the number of planned projects/measures against those that have been implemented. No reference is made to the identified strategy indicators, or broader development impact.
This situation was significantly changed via the ILDP Guidance and tools for 3-years operational planning and annual reporting, that has been applied in the previous annual planning and reporting cycle. Still, cantonal institutional stakeholders need to acquire additional knowledge and skills necessary for effective monitoring of implementation of cantonal strategies, which will enable accurate assessment of cantonal governments` achievements against their development objectives and help them move progressively towards the social and economic advancement for the benefits of their citizens.
In some cantons, institutional frameworks are being established and staffed to enable effective development management, particularly in light of the new and emerging legal framework. Nevertheless, having in mind that many development management functions and processes are relatively new for most cantons, basic capacities need to be created.
In that regard, based on the revised Guidelines fully aligned with the existing and emerging legal framework, the consultant is expected to support cantonal institutional stakeholders in conducting the following tasks: i) formulation of a clear and concise report on the implementation of the cantonal development strategies in 2017; ii) supporting preparation of a draft 2018 – 2020 strategy implementation plan comprising both priorities from all development sectors, as well as their financial perspective, as defined under task 1; iii) ensuring linkage between the draft 2018 - 2020 implementation plan and its financial framework and the cantonal government budget and cantonal public investment plan as well as realistic projection of the scope of external sources funding; iv) offering capacity development of relevant government staff in the area of cantonal 3-year operational planning and annual monitoring.
To this end, the envisaged type of assistance under this task includes: expert advice, facilitation and training, as well as quality assurance of the pilot products and processes.
Process inputs:
The adjusted and upgraded guidance for multiannual strategic planning and annual reporting, including templates and tools, aligned with the emerging legal framework and the best cantonal practices;
Cantonal development strategies by 2020 and their implementation plans, including indicators, baseline and targets (to be provided by cantonal governments);
3 Draft 3-years Plans and Annual Reports for pilot cantons (ideally small, medium and large; or 3 cantons that initiate related processes timely and produce draft documents first).
Process outputs: (responsibility of the consultant):
Based on received process inputs and in close coordination with the ILDP, the Consultant will prepare and deliver a training for 3-years annual planning and annual reporting, targeting staff from cantonal development units and possibly selected future consultants (approx. 20 participants in total). The comprehensive training package that the Consultant will develop will include: training module agenda, PowerPoint presentations and hand-outs for participants (reading materials and exercises for individual/group work, check lists) and training evaluation form. Prior to delivery, the training materials are to be approved by the ILDP. The organisation of training and logistic arrangements will be conducted by the ILDP;
Draft annual reports on strategy implementation and 3-years plans (including benchmark/target performance indicators) from up to 3 pilot cantons reviewed and commented, ensuring the required quality of products. In performing this sub-task, the Consultant is expected to organise a minimum three brief question and answers coaching sessions (up to 3 hours) in selected cantons that will also include participants from neighbouring cantons;
It is envisaged that this task will be delivered by end of November 2017. The level of effort for Task 2 will not exceed 20 expert days.
The entire service will be delivered in the languages of peoples of BiH.
Deliverables and timelines
The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

Task 1: Review, adjust and upgrade the existing ILDP Guidance for multiannual planning and annual reporting:
A minimum 5 interviews with cantonal counterparts and key FBiH institutions representatives held; The adjusted draft procedural guidelines for multiannual planning and annual strategic reporting, supported with templates and tools developed; The programme and materials for a half-day focus group prepared and focus group conducted, targeting key FBiH and cantonal representatives, aiming at presenting and consulting the draft procedural guidelines and collect feedback; Guidelines for multiannual planning and annual reporting revised to serve as a platform in transition period, prior to adoption and operationalisation of the upcoming by-laws on development planning and management - July 2017- end-September 2017, (15 expert days);
Task 2: Support preparation of development reports for 2017 and 2018-2020 strategy implementation plans in cantons:
The comprehensive training package for multi-annual planning and annual reporting developed and include: training agenda, PowerPoint presentations and hand-outs for participants (reading materials and exercises for individual/group work, check lists), training evaluation, etc.; Up to 2-day orientation training for multi annual planning and annual reporting delivered, targeting staff from cantonal development units and possibly selected future consultants conducted; Draft annual reports and multi-annual plans (including benchmark/target performance indicators) for up to 3 pilot cantons reviewed and commented, ensuring the required quality of products; Minimum three brief questions and answers coaching sessions (up to 3 hours) held in cantons with staff of cantonal development management units from host and neighbouring cantons - Late September 2017- end - November 2017,(20 expert days);

O zaposleniku

Znanja i kvalifikacije:

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:
Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.
People Skills:
Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behaviour;
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.
Partnering and Networking:
Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.
Results-Orientation:
Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.
Communication:
Technical writing skills, formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Strong communication skills;
Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.
Job Knowledge and Expertise:
Strong analytical skills;
Knowledge in strategic planning and methodology development;
Demonstrates substantive knowledge on security issues and activities with an emphasis on local communities;
Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
University degree in public administration, economics, law, or related field;
Advanced degree will be considered an asset.
Experience:
At least 5 years of relevant experience in the field of development planning and management in BiH or European Union countries;
Previous experience in provision of technical assistance and training to public institutions in BiH or European Union countries in the area of strategic planning and/or implementation of strategies is required;
Previous experience in support to cantons is an asset;
Previous experience in working as part of public administration in BiH is a distinct asset;
Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and clearly.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in languages of peoples of BiH and excellent command of English.
EVALUATION
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
Cumulative analysis
Applicants are required to submit an application including:
Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html);
Financial proposal which will separately specify professional fee, indicating number of anticipated working days, travel costs (air-ticket or use of private vehicle), living allowance, and all other applicable costs..
Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.
Note:
For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical:
Background and education: University degree in public administration, economics, law, or related field. Advanced degree will be considered an asset; At least 5 years of relevant experience in the field of development planning and management in BiH or European Union countries; Weight:10%, Maximum points:10;
Previous experience in provision of technical assistance and training to public institutions in BiH or European Union countries in the area of strategic planning and/or implementation of strategies is required; Weight: 20%, Maximum points: 20;
Previous experience in support to cantons and in working as part of public administration in BiH is a distinct asset; Weight:15%, Maximum points:15;
Proposed Basic Methodology - Weight: 25%, Maximum points: 25;
Financial - Weight: 30%, Maximum points: 30;